Plate 44. Summer Red Bird 

Here we see John James Audubon's "Plate 44. Summer Red Bird," part of his ambitious "Birds of America" project from the 19th century. It is a beautiful depiction of the Summer Tanager perched among fruiting vines. Born in what is now Haiti, Audubon’s own identity was as complex and migratory as the birds he painted. But it's impossible to ignore how his work intersects with the era's colonial expansion and scientific exploration, including problematic romanticization of nature. His detailed illustrations were made possible through the exploitation of the very landscapes he sought to immortalize. In viewing this image, consider the cultural lens through which Audubon presented these birds and how it impacts our understanding of nature. The image is beautiful, but it is also a product of its time. It invites us to contemplate our relationship with the natural world.